Timer



July 6 1926.

A. HARTMANN TIMER Filed March 31, 1924 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES smear HARTMANN, or aocxroiin;.-1mmo1s.

TIMER.

Application fiied'na'rh 31, 15524 Seriaf No. 703,296.

The invention relates to timers or commutator's for the. ignition systems of internal combustion engines, and has more particular' reference to those employed on motor vehicl'es, especially on Ford automobiles and Fordson tractors.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide an improved timer of this type .in which the brush and contact faces will be effectually protected against fOI'GIgH matter; such as dust, dirt and o l. By keeping the contact faces clean in this man- He! the timer will functibn properly Over a much" longer period of time than timers not so constructed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a protective shell for the current conducting wires which connect to the contact bihldi'ng" posts, whifihiis so constructedas to house and protect the wires against interference by adjoining mechanism such for example as the fan-belt, thus preventing short-circuiting of these wires and thereby further promoting longevity in timers of this type.

Further objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skllled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is an end view of a timer embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3, is an end view of the timer with the wire protecting shell removed;

Fig. 4:, is a section taken on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, is a section taken on the hne 5-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 6, is a detailed section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be observed that my invention in its present embodiment is designed particularly for use on Ford motors, and that I have shown only such parts as are necessary for an understanding of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that my invention is not to be circumscribed b this particular use, but is generally app icable to timers or commutators for inter-- nal combustion engines.

The casing or body designated enerally by 7 which carries the contact points and which isoperableby oscillation for advancing and retarding the spark as is well known in thisart, comprises an annular wall 8 closed atone end by a contact-carrying wall9. This casing is adapted to bemoiinted a i Open S e w pp fi s a v( Q shown). on which the openend of me annular wall. 8 seats. This is preferably cast to shape and made of some s ui t abl'e insulating material impervious to moisture and having good wearing q ualities.

A seriesof contact elements is cast in the wall 9, these elements beingof any suitable or preferred construction with the contact faces at the inner side of the wall and binding post at the outer side thereof. In 6 I haveshown a contact element 11 cast in the wall 9, said element having a contact fa 12M ine a a e b n i' spe 1 at its opposite end to which a current conducting Wire 14: is attached. Each contact element is similar in construction, and similar reference numerals apply to smilar parts. The casing 7 is mounted concentrically with respect to a timing-gear shaft 14, generally known as the timer shaft. On this shaft is mounted to revolve therewith a brush holder designated generally by 15. In the preferred embodiment of my invention the brush holder has a transverse socket 16 for the reception of a brush 17. A compression spring 18 interposed between the end wall of the socket and the brush yieldingly urges the latter against the contact faces. The brush holder also has a substantially annular packing socket adapted to be filled with packing material which makes contact with the internal face of the annular wall 8. The brush holder is so constructed that, with its packing just described, a partition or closure is provided at the open end of the contact compartment which prevents the admission of dust, dirt, oil or other foreign matter to said compartment. In the present embodiment of my invention the brush holder comprises a hub 19'cast integral with a pair of axially spaced discs 21 and 22 slightly less in diameter than the internal diameter of the annular body 8. The brush socket 16 is formed by the wall 23 cast with the brush holder proper. The spaced discs 21 and 22 form a packing-holdin socket in which is positioned suitable pac king material mak mg contact witlrthe internal fac of the annular wall This packing, which may be of felt or the like, is preferably in two half sections 2% and 25, separated diametrically as at 26 on a line intersecting the hub 19 and brush socket wall 23, as plainly shown in Fig. 5.

The current-conducting wires are housed in a shell designated generally by 27 which forms a conduit open at opposite ends. This shell at one open end 28 is annular in form and seats on an annular shoulder 29 on the casing 7. The shell will be held in position on said casing by a spring element (not shown) but which is well known in this art, seating or bearing against a recess 31. The opposite open end 32 is located substantially below and at one side of the center of the timer, and it is from this end that the current-conducting wires emanate. By shaping the shell 27 in this manner said wires are protected against interference by adjoining operating parts, such for exampleas the fan belt. The opening 32 is sufficiently large to permit the shell 31 to be slid down on the wires whenever it is desired to gain access to the binding posts.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects prefaced above and while I have illustrated but a single working embodiment it should be understood that changes might be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim, in which:

I claim:

In a timer of the kind referred to comprising the usual stationary but oscillatory hollow cylindrical shell, a hollow rotary brush holder therefor comprising a central hub for the reception of the timer shaft, said hub being cast integral with a pair of axially spaced disks only slightly smaller in diameter than the inside of said shell and having a brush-holding socket cast between said disks, said spaced disks forming there between an ample packing-holding socket, and a disk of packing material having two portions to fit about said hub and brush socket from opposite sides thereof between said spaced disks in said packing-holding socket and normally projecting beyond the rims of said disks to engage snugly inside the timer shell.

ALBERT HARTMANN. 

